Coeliac Disease is a gastrointestinal disorder with many varied symptoms, which are common in many other disorders. This makes it a lot more difficult to diagnose than it should be. It is one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in our modern times. Yet ironically it is one of the most easily treatable.

The most common Symptoms are
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating after meals
• Recurrent diarrhoea and
• Flatulence.
• Weight loss

Unfortunately many other diseases and disorders have these common symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s Disease, Stomach Ulcers and gastroenteritis.
Then there are many other common symptoms that are not even gastro-intestinal in nature such as:

• Anemia
• Thyroid Disease
• Depression
• Muscle cramps
• Dry skin
• Mouth Sores
• Weakness and Fatigue
• Infertility
• Osteoporosis

It is possible to have Coeliac Disease without having any of the gastro-intestinal symptoms, which is why many people go undetected with the illness. It is a disease of mal-absorption, so many of the signs and symptoms of the disease are indicated by disease in areas of the body where there has been a nutritional deficiency that leads to disease, for example Anemia and Osteoporosis are the two best example of this.

Even though there are many overlapping features with other gastro intestinal disorders, if someone has any other features such as unexplained anemia or a thyroid disorder, it is imperative to be checked for Coeliac Disease. Unfortunately leaving the disease undiagnosed does more harm than just unpleasant symptoms; it can ultimately lead to malignancies of the intestinal tract.

Testing for Coeliac Disease involves a simple blood test, which measures the antibodies to the proteins in gluten and then an intestinal biopsy performed by gastroscope to confirm the diagnosis. It is one of the most undiagnosed diseases today and yet it so easy to treat. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, get tested for Celiac Disease. If you already have existing auto-immune illnesses such as Diabetes or Addison’s Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis, check for Coeliac.

Unfortunately it also still only seen as a rare disorder in children, who fail to thrive, when in fact it is becoming more and more diagnosed in previously well adults. It is so commonly missed that it imperative to ask your doctor to test you for Coeliac Disease.